Laura Ingraham Endorses Anti-Immigrant Hate Group

Fox News contributor Laura Ingraham endorsed the anti-immigrant hate group Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) on her radio show, following months of her campaign to kill the bipartisan effort for comprehensive immigration reform.

During a commercial break between segments on The Laura Ingraham Show on June 20, a recording played of Ingraham endorsing FAIR, claiming that immigration reform was "a declaration of war on American workers and taxpayers" and that FAIR fought "for true reform that puts the future of America first":

INGRAHAM: I want you to know there's an organization fighting to restore integrity to our immigration system and to make sure that your voice is heard. I'm talking about the Federation for American Immigration Reform, or FAIR. FAIR works for strong border security and enforcement to stop illegal immigration, and FAIR leads the fight to make sure that we don't just keep importing more and more foreign labor to replace American workers, who want and need jobs. Right now, special interests are giving us phony promises of enforcement, while they're working hard to make sure millions get amnesty. They don't care about the rule of law or the American worker, that's not their priority. Listen, amnesty is not immigration reform. It's a declaration of war on American workers and taxpayers. But you can help FAIR fight for true reform that puts the future of America first. Go to FAIRus.org. Let's retake control of the immigration debate. Get involved and make a difference at FAIRus.org.

The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) has designated FAIR as an anti-immigrant hate group, writing[1] "FAIR leaders have ties to white supremacist groups and eugenicists and have made many racist statements. Its advertisements have been rejected because of racist content." FAIR has promoted people who made violent threats[2]against immigrants[3], has known ties to the nativist leader John Tanton[4], and has received money from white supremacist[5] groups. The group's founder and president Dan Stein also published an error-ridden piece[6] for Politico in April urging Republicans to "walk away" from a deal on comprehensive immigration reform legislation.

Ingraham's on-air endorsement of FAIR follows months of her campaigning against[7] the bipartisan effort to reform immigration policy. In March, while guest-hosting for host Bill O'Reilly on his Fox News show, Ingraham let[8] FAIR spokesman Bob Dane deny that the anti-immigrant organization is a hate group while demonizing the Southern Poverty Law Center. She has hosted a nativist group director[9] on her radio show to push debunked immigration myths, argued that a "two-tiered" class system for undocumented immigrants[10] "sits better" with her than comprehensive reform, claimed that immigration reform will "destroy American sovereignty[11]," and has promoted smears[7] against Latinos. Ingraham has also promised[12] to campaign against[13] congressional Republicans who support comprehensive immigration reform.